title: Psychoeducative groups help control type 2 diabetes in a primary care setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to measure the impact of a psychoeducational group intervention in diabetes using glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), the body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) compared with conventional educational measures provided individually.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental study (pre/post-intervention) with a non-equivalent control group was conducted, including 72 type 2 individuals with diabetes (mean data: age 63.08 years, HbA1C 6.98%, BMI 30.48 kg/m2).The beneficial effect of psychoeducational group therapy in the study group (PGT) was compared with conventional diabetes education in the control group (CG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PGT had a higher mean HbA1c reduction (-0.51 ± 1.7 vs. -0.06 ± 0.53%, p 0.003), met the objectives of optimal control of HbA1c to a higher degree (80% vs. 48%, p 0.005) and greater mean weight reduction (-1.93 ± 3.57 vs. 0.52 ± 1.73 kg, p 0002) than the CG.A significant improvement in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was achieved in PGT (all p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PGT patients achieved a significant improvement in HbA1C, BMI and CVRF, and outperformed the conventional diabetes education group in achieving the optimal diabetes control objectives. Structural changes in the assistance programs should be considered to introduce these more efficient therapies for diabetes education in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care centre, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Cervantes Cuesta
authors.forename: Noelia Victoria
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: García-Talavera Espín
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brotons Román
authors.forename: M Ángeles
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Núñez Sánchez
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brocal Ibáñez
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Villalba Martín
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saura García
authors.forename: Tomasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sánchez Esteban
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Romero López-Reinoso
authors.forename: Ma José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Delgado Aroca
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez Gil
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meoro Avilés
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soriano Palao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D014280:Triglycerides